Do I need to tune up my 1-2 holes?

Gear
1

Hi all! If I play the 1-2 notes “super carefully” they sound almost ok, but they have this raspy quality to them:

Is it just a matter of technique and being more delicate with them, OR should I adjust the reeds?
thanks in advance!

1 Like
2

It might be technique or it maybe the gaps are too wide, probably need to gap them, something you really need to learn as some harps don’t come out of the box spot on. Go on YouTube there are loads of tips on there, but practice on an old flatted out harp first before you mess with the new one and be very careful

2 Likes
3

thanks Andy!
I adjusted both the reeds (just slightly though) and also my overall technique, I think I’m 80% of the way there though it still sounds a tad forced (like I’m pushing air too hard and doing the Pshhhh sound)

2 Likes
4

Ahhh then you may have gapped them slightly to high, it’s just a matter of finding the sweet spot. It took me quite some time to get the knack. I’m glad it’s getting there though. There’s a lot of vids on YouTube about gapping and how to get it just right. It’s a really useful skill to learn as is tuning almost all of my performing harps I’ve doctored and tuned. I’m getting into customizing now too which requires a hell of a lot of research.

1 Like
5

thanks Andy! Thanks, Yes, I meant from the last feedback that I adjusted it- I pushed the reeds down just a bit (result on the above video) -

  • should I try to push them down a bit more?
2 Likes
6

They may just need a tiny ( and I mean tiny) but of gapping but that’s not far off now. The way I approach it is am I happy 100% with the sound, ( for example I play a lot of high to low, low to high runs ( I think proper harp players call em arpeggios) so I do a lot of work on those high reeds to get them to sound clear. I also gap for overblowing ( not knowing I was actually overblowing,) I was playing at a mates gig and he said “how do you overblow like that?” I didn’t even know there was a thing called overblowing I started way before there was an Internet and all that, its only now I’m learning all this Harmonica speak. But yes there is a sweet spot on all of your reeds it’s always worth gapping a new harp right out of the box. I’m really glad to have helped. I hope it works for you

3 Likes
7

@yurithebest sounds good to me! I think you’ve done all the tinkering you need to. Now just play, play, play! Rock on! :sunglasses:

2 Likes